Crib



juy 319 Ii945.

c. E. WEBB 2,380,812

CRIB

Filed Oct. 22, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l 'g' "Figi 3f@ f3 l Z-1 J2 7\` |e' l Ilm E542. 3% fw@ Gttorneg Patented July 31,- 1945 CRIB Charles E. Webb, New London, Wis., assignor to Edison Wood Products, Incorporated, West Orange, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application October 22, 194i, Serial No. 416,001 3 Claims. (Cl. 5-11`) This invention relates to cribs and more particularly to cribs having an adjustable'mattress frame and movable side guards or panels.

Some of the more general objects of my invention are to provide an improved and simplified construction of such a crib which may be readily assembledV and disassembled; to provide anv improved guide mechanism for the mattress frame; to provide a simplied support structure for the-mattress frame adapted to permit the frame to be easily installed and removed into and from the" crib structure; and to provide a simple Y crib structure held rigid without the use of a bottom support frame and which may be co1- lapsed or folded'when the mattress frame is re-v moved so as, for example, to permit the crib to be readily transported through doorways while the sides and ends thereof are in assembled relation.

In a more particular respect, it is an object of my invention to provide a crib arrangement having a minimum number of parts of simple design which may be readily fabricated at low cost. To this end I provide a crib structure of end sections and side panels vwhich are pivoted together at the corners by rods serving as guides for the side panels; and I hold vthe structure rigid without the use of bottom side rails, the end sections being held rigid against rocking (that is, against tilting with respect to the horizontal) by means of the movable side panels and the latch means therefor, and the ends and sides o! the crib struc- Still other objects are to provide improvements in a. crib structure of the type abovementioned which are adapted to 4simplify the support mech-- anism for the adjustable mattress frame and to simplify the means by which the movable side panel may be held from rattling.

vention to provide a stabilized adjustable support Still further and allied objects of my invention will appear from the attached description and the appended claims.

In the description of my invention, reference is had to the following drawings of which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a crib constructed in accordance with my invention, a part thereof being however broken away for the better illustration of details of the structure;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figurel;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary horizon-tal sectional view taken on the line 3-3of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view to enlarged scale taken on the line 4-4 oi.'

Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view to emerged scale taken 0n the line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is an inside view to enlarged scale of the latch mechanism for one of the scissors or lazy-tongs mechanisms supporting the mattress frame at the ends;

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line l-l of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view to enlarged scale of the lever or pedal for operating the latches of the side panel; and

Figure 9 is a fragmentary view in perspective showing details of my invention.

The embodiment of my invention shown in the accompanying drawings comprises a crib structure of end sectional and side panels 2 which are joined together at the comers by vertical rods 3.-

These rods are secured to the end sections at the top by having their u PDer'end portions 3 bent over horizontally and -fastened by union couplings l to studs (not shown)` in .the end sections. In addition, the rods are secured to the end sections at their lower end portions by. means of brackets 5 and at their intermediate portions by rigidifying brackets It and at the left side oi the crib (as it appears in Figure 3) and 6a and 6a' at the right side oi the crib, as is hereinafter explained. The top and bottom rails of the side panels are apertured as at 1 and extending through these apertures are the rods 3.' Thus the side panels are slidably mounted for up and down movement, the rods serving as guides for the panels; also the sides and ends of the crib structure are pivoted together by the rods and the crib structure may thus be folded or collapsed by bringing the sides and ends thereof together in parallel movement. This folding feature is highly advantageous in permitting the crib structure to be transported readily through narrow passageways such as through doors from one room to another. However, when the mattress frame is mounted in place in the crib structure as ishereinafter explained, the latter is held angularly rigid at its corners and is thus prevented from being folded.

The mattress frame of the crib, which is herein referred to as 8, comprises angle irons at its 1 wardly beneath the frame, as is shown in Figures 2 and 3. Between the horizontal flanges 9' there is a screen which is held stretched by tension springs I2.

The support structure for the mattress frame is adapted to permit the frame to be raised and lowered at either end, and .comprises laterally extending horizontal bars I3 carried respectively by the brackets 6 and 6a and the brackets 6' and 6a' and lazy-tongs or scissors mechanisms |4 interposed between the bars I3 and the ends of the frame, as is shown in Figure 2. These scissors mechanisms each comprise two levers I6 and |6 pivoted togetherat their centers as at I1. The lever I5 is pivoted at I8 to the vertical ange 9" at the end of the frame and has a slidable pivotal connection with the bar I3 comprising a. stud I9 on the lever and a slot in the bar in which the stud may pivot and slide; conversely, the lever I6 is pivoted at I6' to the bar I3 and has a slidable pivotal connection with the vertical ange 9" of the frame comprising a stud 2| on the lever and a slot 22 in the flange as shown in Figure 6. Thus either end of the mattress frame may be raised and lowered, the studs I9 and 2| being slid, inwardly and outwardly in relation to the crib, along the respective slots 20 and22 as the frame is so moved.

frame is raised to a level above its uppermost latched position, it may then be freely lowered without `restriction to its lowermost position. To this end, a cam 32 is provided at the end of the rack. When the frame is raised to the level just mentioned, the lug 21. engages the cam 32 and is cammed upwardly into contact with the topsurface of the flange 23', there being a slot Il in this flange through which the lug passes. This slot is covered by the end portion of a leaf spring 34 whichv is riveted to the top side of the flange 29', but the spring yields to the pressure of the In order that either or both ends of the frames I may be retained in elevated position, there are provided latches at the slidable pivotal connections between the levers I6 and the frame which are effective to hold the studs from sliding outwardly along the slots 20 and 22. These latches, which are herein referred to as 26 and shown in detail in Figures 6 and 7, each comprises a dog 26 pivoted on the inner end of the stud 2| within the angle irons at the ends ofv the frame.` The dog 26 has a lug 21 turned ove'\frpml the end thereof which engages a rack 26. 'I'his rack con-` stitutes the vertical flange of an angle iron 23, the top flange 23' of which is secured by spacing rivets 30 to the under side of the flange 9' of the ent instance there are three such notches 23 adapted to permit either end of the frame to be held at different heights in any one of threerdifferent positions.

The latches 25 are arranged so that, if the lug to permit the lug to pass up through the slot. When the lug has however passed through the slot the spring snaps back to close the latter and thus prevent the lug from returning back onto the rack through this slot. When the frame is next lowered the lug is caused to slide across the top of the flange 29 through the length of the rack. When the frame* however reaches its lowermostposition, the lug comes into engagement ,with a slot 35 in the top of the flange 23 and is snapped downwardly onto the rack by the biasing spring 3|. Thus, upon raising either end of the 2 frame that end will be latched successively in progressively higher positions against downward movement, except that should the frame be raised above the uppermost one of these latched positions, it is then freed to be returned to its lowermost position.

'I'he end portions of the supporttbars I3 are bent over to form inwardly projecting lugs at the four corners of the crib', there being thus formed lugs 36 and 36' at the front side of the crib structure and lugs 31 and 31 at the back side-that is at the left and right sides of the crib as it.

in shape except that those with `the prime marksy are slightly longer. These lugs extend beneath the frame and serve to supportI it in its lowermost position. Preferably, in order that the lowermost position of the frame may be one in which the scissors mechanisms |4 are in 'a substantially wholly collapsed condition and the frame in a position substantially in'horizontal relation with the support bars I3, the vertical flanges 3" ci' the frame ends are provided with slots 33 as shown in Figure 2. When the frame is lowered the lugs 36 and 31 engage these slots and come into contactwith the under sides of the horizontal flange s' of the frame.

As the frame is raised and lowered the scissors mechanisms |4 operate to hold the frame in parallel relation to the support bars 3 and, in addition, to hold the frame rigid against swaying in a direction lateral or sidewise oi the crib. To

hold the frame rigid against swaying in a direction lengthwise of the crib there are provided stabilizers 40, one at 'each side of the frame. These stabilizers each comprise a half scissors mechanism made up of a diagonal lever 4| and a brace link 42 which are pivoted together at 43, as shown in Figure' 1. The link has a pivotal connection at 44 to the vertical flange 9" at the side of the frame, andthe lever has, at one end, a slidable pivotal nconnection 45 tokthis vertical flange and, at the other end, a fixed pivotal connection 46 with one of the support bars I3, ,the pivotal connections of thel levers of the stabilizers to this one support bar being conveniently made to the lugs 36 and 31 aforementioned. It will be recognized that these stabilizers will guide the frame vertically and effectively hold it rigid against swaying'lengthwise of the crib. Having however only one point of pivoting at one endthe pivotal connection 46 to the support bar I3 the stabilizers have the advantage of permitting the mattress frame to be raised at either end and be thus placed at an inclination with the horizontal-a feature which lis very desirable in childrens cribs.

It will be seen that by the use of two stabilizers 40 placed between opposite sides of the frame and one of the support bars I3, the frame is held angularly rigid against turning about a vertical axis in .relation to that one support bar. Since the support bars are securely held in place on the crib end sections-.as will hereinafter be apparent-it will be seen that this angular rigidity between the frame and support bar and that rigidifying influence of the scissors mechanisms I4 which prevents the frame ends from being displaced sidewise in relation to the crib end sections, are effective by their conjoint action to angularly brace the crib structure and hold it rigid at its corners against being folded or collapsed in the'manner hereinbefore mentioned. Thus the same mechanism which guides and stabilizes the mattress frame serves also to hold the crib structure rigid against being folded. This rigidifying of the cribit will be seenis accomplished without the use of the usual bottom side railsthere being independent mountings of the frame `support mechanism to the crib end sections-and without involving any direct or sliding contact of the mattress frame with either the crib side panels or end sections.

The support bars I 3 are carried by the pairs of brackets-6 and 6a (see Fig. 9) and 6 and 6a' respectively, as aforementioned, on lugs 50 and 50a provided on the brackets 6 and 6a respectively and lugs |50 and 50a provided on the brackets B and 6a respectively, the lugs with the prime marks being somewhat shorter than the corresponding lugs without the prime marks (see Fig. 3). The lugs 50a and 50a' have up-turned hooks 5I thereon extending laterally of the crib, whichengage respective apertures 52 in the lugs 3l and 3l of the support bars to form a pivotal support for the mattress frame at one side of the crib, asis shown in Figure 3. The support bars merely rest on the lugs 50 and 50', there being however slots 53 in these lugs open to the top into which the support bars fit. Cotter pins 54, as are shown in Figure 3, serve to hold the support bars from being raised from these brackets. Lateral movement of the bars in relation to the crib end sections is prevented by the engagement of the lugs 31 and 3l' of the support bars with the hooks 5I, Thus the support bars and mattress frame are securely fastened to the crib end sections. The support bars may however be readily detached merely by removing the Cotter pins and thereafter lifting the support bars from the brackets 6 until they reach such angle that the other ends thereof may be slid off from the hooks 5I.

A latch means is provided for each side panel 2 which comprises a pair of rods 55 extending along the bottom rail of each panel from the center to the opposite ends thereof. The rods of each pair are journalled to the lower rail of the side panel through a bracket 56 at their inner ends and through brackets 5l at their outer ends. Secured to the outer ends of the rods are pawls 58. The pawls of each pair are normally held vertically by a torsional spring 59 hooked at its ends on the bottom edge of the bottom rail of the side panel and having a central U-shaped portion 59' which is looped over short bent-over extensions 55 at the inner ends of the rods. A panel 6U which is pivoted on each pair of rods and which bridges the inner end portions thereof provides the means by which the pawls are controlled. The pawls are provided with notches 6I in their inner vertical faces by which they are adapted to engage respective catch fingers 62, integrally provided on the rigidifying brackets, to latch the side panels in raised position or other similar catch fingers 62, integrally provided on the brackets 5, to latch the side panels in lower position. Upper and lower inclined edges (i4-and 85, provided on the pawls above and below the notchesv 6I as are shown in Figure 4, form cam faces bywhich the pawls are cammed back preliminary to their engagement with the catch fingers B2 as the side panel is raised and lowered.

'I'he side panels are placed under a constraint or bias while they occupy their lower latched positions so as to prevent them from being rattled. This is done by means of compression springs 66 which are coiled about the guide rods between the lower rails of the side panels and the brackets '5. These springs rest on the brackets and are placed under compression by the impact thereon of the side panels as the same are let to drop from raised positions into their lower latched positions, the springs being held compressed by the latching of the side panels. The force exerted by the springs against the latches thus serves to hold the side panels constrained against rattling.

In the crib structure above described the only framework interconnecting the crib end sections, aside from that of the side panels, is the framework forrned by the mattress frame 8 and the scissors mechanisms I 4, bars I3 and brackets 6 and 6a which couple the mattress frame to the end sections. This coupling means is not in itself sufciently rigid for practical purposes to prevent the end sections from being racked or inclined with respect to the horizontal. It is however a feature of my invention to rigidify the crib structure against being so racked through the medium of the movable side panels. It will be understood that so long as one or another of these side panels is latched at each end thereof to the respective crib end sections, the crib end sections will be so interconnected as to be free from being racked in the manner hereinabove mentioned. In order to assure that one or another of -the side panels will be so latched at all times, I provide the aforedescribed latch means at each end of each side panel effective to latch the side panel in both its raised and lowered positions. Thus, when either or both side panels are `in raised position or are released from raised position to fall into a lowered position, they are latched to each end section to form a rigid crib structure. Because of the wide separation of the top and bottom rails of the side panels which interconnect the end sections, there is here realized a crib structure which is more rigid against racking than is the usual crib structure wherein reliance is had on relatively narrow brackets, between the end sections and a bottom frame, to so rigidify the crib structure.

The particular embodiment of my invention herein disclosed will be understood to be illustrative and not limitative of my invention, as the same is subject to many changes and modifications without departure from the scope of my invention, which I undertake to express according to the following claims.

I-olaim: v

Yl. In a crib: the combination of end sections; side panels each slidably and 'pivotally connected to said end `sections for vertical movement; a mattress frame; laterally extending cross bars separate from 'one another and carried by said end vsections respectively; scissors mechanisms operatively interposed between said cross bars and the ends of said frame; levers at the sides of said frame having sliding pivotal connections to the frame and each having a .pivotal connection to one of said bars; and brace links respectively pivotally connected to said levers intermediately thereof and to the sides of said frame.

.2. Apparatus for detachably and adjustably securing a mattress frame to the end sections of a crib, comprising a pair of parallel horizontal bars at the ends of the crib; vertically adjustable mechanisms connecting the ends of said frame to said bars respectively; detachable means pivotally connecting said bars to said end sections at one side of the crib; and a pair 'of brackets on said end sections for supporting said bars at the other side of the crib.

3f. In a crib structure including end sections, side panels interconnecting said vend sections, 'and a, mattress frame: the combination of fullfscish sors mechanisms at the ends of said crib for supporting said mattress'frame at different elevations, said scissors mechanisms having operative connections to the ends of said mattress frame and having other operative connections, separate from one another, to the respective end sections of said crib; and half-scissors mechanisms at the sides of said crib and extending lengthwise thereof, said half-scissors mechanisms being operatively interposed betw'een said mattress frame and one of said end sections and cooperating with said full-scissors mechanisms for stabilizing said frame lengthwise of the crib.

CHARLES E. WEBB. 

